How hypnosis works

Who Should Avoid Hypnotherapy?

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Hypnotherapy is not safe for everyone. The NCCIH includes hypnosis among approaches that are generally safe for healthy people when performed appropriately, and notes that people with medical conditions or who are pregnant may need to modify or avoid some of them. A few groups should skip it or use it only inside care from a clinician who knows them: people with psychotic symptoms or schizophrenia, people with a drug or alcohol problem, and anyone whose goal is to recover memories.

People with hallucinations, delusions or schizophrenia

WebMD’s medically reviewed overview of hypnosis risks names these first. It describes hypnosis as potentially dangerous for people with hallucinations, delusions or schizophrenia, and notes that experts are not sure whether people with schizophrenia can reach a full hypnotic state, with some suggesting it may cause other mental health problems for them.

These are reasons for an assessment led by a clinician rather than an automatic ban; suitability depends on the condition, current symptoms, the treatment setting and the clinician’s expertise. For this group the question is not “which hypnotist?” but “should hypnosis be part of my treatment at all?”, and that question belongs to the psychiatrist or psychologist who already treats you. If you live with another serious psychiatric diagnosis that is not named here, take the same route: ask your treating clinician before any hypnosis, rather than assuming the list above is complete.

People with a drug or alcohol problem

WebMD also lists drug and alcohol misuse among the situations in which hypnosis can be dangerous. Its list does not separate current heavy use, a risk of withdrawal and a problem that is well behind you, which is another reason to ask a clinician how it applies to you. That does not mean hypnosis has no place in recovery; it means the decision should be made with the people managing your treatment, not with a practitioner you found on your own. If you are dependent on alcohol, the NHS warns that stopping drinking suddenly can be very dangerous and advises getting medical help before you try, which is one more reason to plan any change with a clinician.

Anyone hoping to recover buried memories

This caution is about the goal rather than the person. WebMD warns that using hypnosis to bring back memories, especially with someone who is not a trained professional, could create fake memories and further confuse the mental health problem you came in with. If your main reason for considering hypnosis is to find out what “really happened” in your past, that is the use to avoid.

Anyone with a symptom no one has diagnosed

Hypnosis can be a reasonable support for some pain and digestive problems, but not before the cause has been checked. WebMD’s advice for chronic pain is to have a doctor look for conditions that medication or surgery can treat before trying hypnosis. The risk here is not the hypnotic state; it is the delay. A new, worsening or unexplained symptom should be assessed first.

People who do not respond to it

Not everyone can be hypnotized to the same depth. WebMD notes that some people cannot reach a full hypnotic state, which makes the treatment less helpful for them. This is not a safety issue. It does mean that if several sessions with a competent practitioner produce nothing you can notice, that is a fair signal to stop paying for more.

People taking psychiatric medication, children, and pregnancy

None of these is an automatic exclusion. Each needs a different kind of care.

  • Psychiatric medication. WebMD notes that doctors use hypnosis as part of treatment for problems such as anxiety and depression, so a diagnosis is not a barrier in itself. Keep your prescriber informed, and never treat hypnosis as a reason to stop or change prescribed medication.
  • Children and teenagers. A 2025 review of hypnosis in pediatric care describes possible benefits for pain, functional gut disorders, anxiety, habit problems and sleep, while calling the evidence base uneven. Work with someone trained to treat young people, and involve the child’s doctor.
  • Pregnancy. Hypnosis is used in childbirth preparation, and a 2024 systematic review of seven randomized trials looked at it for fear and pain in labor. Keep your maternity care team informed about any sessions.

Where do you fit?

A three-way sort turns the list above into a decision.

  1. Go ahead with a qualified practitioner if you are an adult with an everyday concern, such as stress, a specific fear or a habit, and none of the groups above applies to you.
  2. Go ahead after a conversation with your clinician if you have a diagnosed mental health condition that is not psychotic, take psychiatric medication, are pregnant, or are arranging sessions for a child.
  3. Pause and talk to your treating clinician first if you have hallucinations, delusions, schizophrenia or a substance problem, if you want to recover memories, or if your symptom has never been diagnosed.

Whichever group you are in, the practitioner is part of the safety picture. WebMD points out that not every U.S. state requires certification for hypnotherapists, and suggests looking for a license in hypnotherapy or membership in the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis or the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis.

This article is general information, not medical or psychological advice; talk with a licensed clinician about your own situation, especially if you have a mental health condition.

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